SINGAPORE : Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said means testing is necessary to stretch the limited healthcare budget.

While the government is committed to investing more money into healthcare, Mr Khaw said he wants to see subsidies going to those who need it most.

He was addressing concerns about flexibility, fairness and implementation at a Channel NewsAsia forum on means testing.

Associate Professor Kalyani Mehta, sociologist and social worker said: "What I hear from some elderly is that they don't want to be a burden to their children. They feel that if they take up the better ward, they might churn up a big (medical) bill for their children who are struggling with their other commitments."

Minister Khaw said that while he will try to ensure that no one falls through the gaps, those more well-off will need to play their part.

Others on the panel were concerned about the immediate and long-term impact of means testing.

"Recognising the result of means testing, ... sitting down and talking to the patients; it will really take the staff a lot of effort to correctly counsel and explain these issues without raising their anger or frustration," said Dr Wong Yue Sie, Chairman of Ambulatory and Clinical Services at Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

Another member of the panel, Dr Eugene Tan, Assistant Professor of Law at Singapore Management University (SMU) said: "You are advocating greater personal responsibility for one's health. But I'm just wondering, what is the government's commitment? We have an ageing population and people's expectations of healthcare is (rising)."

Addressing these concerns, Mr Khaw said: "The healthcare budget will grow year by year. But no matter how much it grows, it will always be limited. So my job is how best to stretch that money to benefit those who really need help. And without means testing, my worry is that people will then come in, and my money will have to be spread among both the poor as well as the well-off."

To hear more of the discussion at the Public Forum on Means Testing, the public can tune in to Channel NewsAsia at 7.30pm on January 24.

The Mandarin version of the forum will be broadcast on Channel 8 at 10.30pm on January 31.

The public can also send their feedback on means testing to the Health Ministry via email at moh_info@moh.gov.sg. - CNA /ls